Zipperless expansion system

Abstract

The present invention provides an expansion system for luggage comprising an upper frame, a lower frame, an expandable section attached between the upper and lower frames, and expansion mechanisms. Each expansion mechanism comprises an upper member attached to the upper frame, a lower member attached to the lower frame and two arms, wherein each arm is pivotally connected to the upper member at one end and is pivotally and slideably connected to the lower member at the other end.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to expandable luggage, and more particularly to expandable luggage having a zipperless expansion system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Expandable luggage are well known. Many expandable luggage use a zipper expansion system comprising two frames, an expandable section of fabric attached between the two frames, and a zipper running along the perimeter of the luggage between the two frames. In other expandable luggage, the expandable section is located at the edge of the luggage without framing, in which case the expansion is soft. The zipper is closed to decrease the volume of the luggage by pulling together the two frames or expansion fabric and folding the expandable section into the interior of the luggage. The zipper is opened to expand the volume of the luggage by allowing the two frames to move apart and the expandable section to unfold. [0003] The zipper expansion system has several disadvantages. One disadvantage is that the zipper ex...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] In an expanded configuration, the adjustable fastener is loosened allowing the urging force of the springs to move the arms to opposite ends of the lower member. This action causes the upper and lower members to move apart, thereby expanding the volume of the luggage. In a compressed configuration, the adjustable fastener is tightened to move the upper and lower members closer together against the urging force of the springs, thereby decreasing the volume of the luggage.

[0009] One advantage of the expansion system of the present invention is that it enables a traveler to adjust the volume of luggage between the expanded and compressed configurations by using the adjustable fastener to adjust the distance between the upper and lower member. Another advantage is that the expansion system of the present invention provides semi-rigid support for luggage compared to prior art systems that use only an expandable section made of fabric. This is because, after the expansion system has been adjusted to a desired luggage volume, the fastener resists further expansion of the expansion mechanism and the urging force of the springs resists further compression of the expansion mechanism. Another advantage is that the expansion mechanism does not easily break from external forces exerted on the luggage. This is because the expansion mechanism resiliently responds to strong external downward forces by compressing instead of breaking.

Problems solved by technology

One disadvantage is that the zipper expansion system does not enable a person to adjust the volume of the luggage to intermediate volumes between the zipped closed and zipped open configuration.

Another disadvantage is that the expandable section does not provide a semi-rigid support to protect articles inside the luggage from external forces exerted on the luggage, such as other luggage placed on top of the luggage.

A disadvantage of this expansion system is that strong external forces exerted on the luggage, such as shock, can break and / or damage the locking mechanism.

Images